Makeup Tips & Info

There’s a lot to learn about makeup and beauty out there even we’ll admit that it can be overwhelming at times. Whether you’re a professional makeup artist who executes a killer smoky eye or a beginner who struggles with foundation application, these makeup tips and tricks are absolutely key.

We love good beauty tips, so we’ve rounded up our best get-gorgeous tricks in one spot. Whether you want to learn how to create the perfect wavy hair or brush-up on your smoky eye technique, you’ll find beauty tips galore to help you get gorgeous from head to toe.

Grab some insider tricks to get the perfect manicure, quick fixes, fast setting polish and easy to achieve looks.

Perfect Finish

For the perfect finish to your nail polish it is important to start with a base coat. This is then followed with your perfect nail polish colour - it is best to apply multiple thin coats instead of one thick coat. Last of all apply a glossy top coat.

Be careful not to apply too many coats, we recommend applying 2 coats, otherwise the multiple layers may get a bit bulky and your perfect manicure is likely to chip or wear off faster.

Ice Water Trick

Use ice water to dry your nails in three minutes, let them air dry for a couple of minutes then dunk away.

How to fix a split Nail

To fix a split nail, cut a small piece of teabag and glue over the split area with nail glue and paint over with nail polish. This allows you to keep your perfect shaped nails.

Blended Nail Polish

To get the perfect fade of colours, start by painting your nails with a white or base colour.
Once this is dry, soak a makeup sponge and squeeze out the excess water. Brush a short line of each colour next to each other on the sponge.

Roll the sponge over your nail, as you are rolling, the colours will blend together to give an equal fade of colour. Repeat this over again as you build the colour you want. Finish and seal with a top coat.

Create the perfect base for you canvas by following these simple and easy tips.

Brushes vs. Fingers

You may prefer the more natural result you get from applying foundation with your fingertips, however fingers contain oil, this is one of the main reasons why using a makeup brush to apply foundation is not only better for your skin but allows your makeup to last longer.

Brush Care

Give your brushes a deep clean once a week with soap and warm water. However if you need to clean and use your brushes instantly, use the MUD Brush Cleaner which will instantly get rid of any bacteria and allow you to use your brushes immediately without having to wait for them to dry!

Exfoliating

Exfoliate at least once a week to give you smoother and brighter looking skin. By doing this, you will will use less foundation during makeup application.

Long Lasting Foundation

Begin with a primer to help absorb oil and set with a lightweight or translucent powder around your hairline, T-zone, around the sides of your nose and under eyes to give a flawless matte setting that will last all day.

Contouring

To create the illusion of a slightly thinner face shape you can use a darker cream foundation or a darker powder to blend into your foundation to contour the shades on your face. See image below.

The areas to shade are under the cheekbone from the ear inwards, shading around the edges of your forehead up to the hairline and if you want to make your nose appear thinner, apply the darker cream or powder down the sides of the nose.

Highlighting

Using a highlighter create a C shape starting at the inner corner of your eyes, going up to just underneath your eyebrows, following the outer curve of your face and then going inwards towards the apple of your cheek. Blend out softly so there is no visible line. Repeat on the other side.

Strobing

Strobing (also known as highlighting) is a technique that goes hand in hand with the less-is-more look, and it is all about reflecting light in the face.

As with most makeup looks, a great skin care regime is paramount. With strobing, this applies even more so because the idea behind strobing is that we will be using light to draw out our features and create a fresh and dewy, lightly glowing and natural look.

For the ultimate au naturel sheen, mix moisturiser with concealers and foundations and then press the mixture onto the skin as a finishing product. This is especially good for mature skin, or those wanting to avoid shimmer for reasons such as breakouts, textured skin, or simply, their own personal preferences.

For those with oilier skin, opt for matte foundations, blushers and bronzers and let the highlight do the talking, keeping anything that glimmers away from the T-zone, as a natural sheen occurs in that area already. Focus the highlighters on the tops of the cheekbones, the cupids bow, and the inner corners of the eyes and under the brow bone.

For drier or slightly dull skin, adding a drop or two of a liquid highlighter to your foundation before applying gives your face an all over glow, and can have you ready to add powder highlights if you see fit.

Eyes are a very important feature of the face. With only a small colour change you can create a completely different look or mood. Finding what suits your face is the fun part.

Eyebrow Shaping

Place a brush aligning the centre of your bottom eyelid and the corner of your nose, where the brush reaches your eyebrow, this is where you eyebrow arch should be for perfect eye shaping. Your brow should then end aligning the brush at the corner of your nose to the outer corner of your eye.

The Perfect Smokey Eye

When creating a smokey eye look use three colours. Use a lighter highlight colour for the inner corner of your eye and under the brow bone. Use a medium colour for the centre of your lid under the crease and a darker colour along the crease and along the upper lash line.

Use a bigger, looser eye shadow brush to blend the colours thoroughly to create a soft haze.

Perfecting Eyeliner

Holding your eyeliner brush on the side and resting against the lash line gives you a stable clean line as you apply liquid eyeliner. To seal the liner in place apply a thin layer of eye shadow over the eyeliner.

Use a cotton swab and a drop of makeup remover to clean up any stray marks or mistakes that may happen when applying eyeliner.

Creating Bigger Awake Eyes

A touch of white eyeliner in the corner of your eyes and along your bottom water line helps make your eyes look bigger and brighter.

Applying Mascara

To give your lashes the most length and volume place the mascara wand at the root of your lashes and gently wiggle the brush up towards the tips, blinking down onto the brush as you go. Apply a second coat for an extra kick.

Styling your hair is the finishing touch. Spice up your favourite hair styles with some extra volume or a slight wave, the possibilities for creation are endless.

Messy Bun

For extra oomph in your messy bun, tie your hair and tease the pony tail before pulling into a bun, this creates the illusion of more hair and a bigger bun.

Volume for Straight Hair

To create extra volume to straight hair, add some hair volumising powder or spray at the roof of the hair, then using a flat iron, pull the flat iron up towards the ceiling creating a lift at the roots.

Perfect Hair Care Needs

Hair type is very important when choosing a suitable shampoo and conditioner. From straight to curly, and dry to oily hair, it is important you use the perfect match for your hair type.

Do not wash your hair every day; using shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils. The act of scrubbing your hair can also create unwanted extra frizz by roughing up the cuticle.

Flat Iron Curls vs. Curling Wand Curls

A flat iron curl gives a tighter uniform curl and with floating plates it can eliminate any tension and pull on the hair. A curling wand gives a perfect, more natural looking curl or wave, free of kinks, ridges and crimped ends.